used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN IGNOMINIOUS EXIT.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
Chandos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
divisible by two
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
EXITnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading AN IGNOMINIOUS EXIT.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
depressingly dark
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
Hickens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
IGNOMINIOUSadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
From this reading AN IGNOMINIOUS EXIT.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
the literary culture
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
oak-parlour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
pine-walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
postmannounUS /ˈpoʊstmən/
a man who delivers the mail
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
urnnounUS /ɜːrn/
a large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Breakfast waited on the table; the postman came with the letters; Hickens looked in to see if he might bring the urn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He waited on us far more than the rest did, although he was butler, knowing that Mr. Chandos liked it.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The windows were thrown open to the bright morning air; the late autumn birds were singing, the trees were gently waving; even the gloomy pine-walk opposite had a ray of sunlight on it.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Little thought I as I stood in the oak-parlour with my great happiness, little thought the servants as they went about their work, that some one lay dead in the west wing.
